Erin Horst
Published: December 4, 2008

DUBUQUE- Linda Chapman lives with many memories, but the one she would like to forget happened on June 5th, 2004.

“We were at a wedding, out in Farley, Iowa,” said Chapman.

What started out as a celebration of new beginnings, ended in the worst way.

“She was having a good time, and I said to her, you’re not driving by any means are you? She said, oh God, no mom, I wouldn’t drive. It would cost me everything I’ve earned,” said Chapman.

But Nicole was not the only driver on the road that night.

“The doorbell rang at about a quarter to four, and there was the sheriff, and he said well your daughter’s been in an accident, and I said well how is she? They said the worst words a parent ever can hear, and that’s she didn’t make it,” relives Chapman.

Nicole was killed by a drunk driver that night.

“His three quarter ton truck hit a medium, crossed the four lane highway, became airborne and landed directly on their SUV,” stated Chapman.

For Linda, one man’s irresponsible decision had grave repercussions.

“Our life has changed…for the worst,” said Chapman.

The driver was charged with vehicular manslaughter and given two twenty-five year prison sentences, but Linda was sentenced as well.

“I live with a death sentence. I can only go to a grave to visit my daughter,” said Chapman.

Now Linda knows there are some things you never forget.

“There’s not a night that I don’t go to bed, and I think about my daughter, and that violent death. All caused because one young man thought he could drink and drive,” said Chapman.

And to honor Nicole’s memory, Linda tells her story, hoping it will save other families the pain of losing a loved one.

“This should have never happened; this was a completely preventable death,” said Chapman.

For anyone who hears the story, the message is as clear as it was to Nicole four years ago.

“If you drink, you should not be driving,” said Chapman.

Erin Horst can be reached at Erin.Horst@loras.edu

Erin Horst
Published: November 13, 2008

DUBUQUE- We have all had a cell phone go off in a public place. It can be very embarrassing. Some teachers are now saying they should be banned from the classroom.

Loras Sophomore, Kristi Olberding said, “I try not to, but I usually have it on vibrate so it makes some sort of noise, and then I can’t not answer it.”

We use them to talk to family, text friends, take pictures, even listen to music, but no matter how we use them, our cell phones are nearly always with us.

“Yes, sometimes I use my phone in class,” said Loras Sophomore Kati Lundquist.

And that’s when it becomes an issue.

“I didn’t really see it becoming a problem in the classroom until maybe the last four or five years,” said Loras Instrumental Music Professor, John Oelrich.

“Cell phones in the last, I would say five years, have absolutely exploded,” added Hempstead High School Math Teacher, Jason Loeffelholz.

Oelrich has been teaching instrumental music for 11 years now, and cell phones are one of his biggest pet peeves.

“I don’t think it enhances or improves the instructional atmosphere at all, in fact I think it’s very detrimental,” said Oelrich.

Many teachers feel that a phone going off in class distracts not only the student with the phone, but others in the class as well.

“Anytime you have a distraction like that it interrupts the learning process and students don’t get as much as they normally would,” said John.

The biggest concern for Loeffelholz is when students text each other during his class.

“Kids do it everywhere, they’ll do it in class, they’ll do it between classes, before school after school.
If they can text they will text,” said Loeffelholz.

While some students would risk getting caught in class, others just aren’t worried about the consequences.

“I’m too chicken to have it go off in class, so I just turn it on silent, and I don’t touch it,” said Loras Sophomore Sarah Riesburg.

So the question becomes, will they eventually ban cell phones from school property.

“I would be behind it one hundred percent,” said Loeffelholz.

“Students should not be allowed to have cell phones in school,” said Oelrich.

Erin Horst can be reached at Erin.Horst@lctv13.com

Erin Horst
Published: October 15, 2008

DUBUQUE- October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and people in Dubuque are becoming actively aware. This means anything from eating a Pink Ribbon Bagel at Panera Bread, to getting a strip of pink put in your hair.

“I know people with Breast Cancer, so this is my way of spreading awareness,” said Michaela Pease, a Loras junior who got pink in her hair.

Women all over Dubuque are joining in the pink hair fest to make others aware, but just three years ago, Jolene Kingeter became more aware than she ever wanted to be.

“It was a deep tumor inside the breast,” said Kingeter.

Jolene found out she had stage three breast cancer, which had spread to stage four in her lymph nodes.

“With stage four in the lymph nodes, it’s in your system, and they want to make sure they kill it,” said Kingeter.

This meant a lot of time spent in the hospital.

“They had to do six chemotherapies, three weeks apart,” said Kingeter.

Though the chemo was next to unbearable, this was one battle Jolene was determined to win.

“I just kept a positive attitude, and was not going to let it get me,” said Kingeter.

She found her driving force in her family.

“The hardest thing was telling my boys, and Nicholas said, well are you going to die? I’m like, well at some point I will die, but not by this, so he’s like, well then ok, we can handle this,” said Kingeter.

Jolene is cancer-free now, and has come out of her experience with a valuable lesson learned.

“Don’t take things for granted. If you want to do something you go do it, because if you’re sick, you can’t do things,” said Kingeter.

Erin Horst can be reached at Erin.Horst@lctv13.com

Erin Horst
Published: October 1, 2008

DUBUQUE – Second year Loras Student, Abhishek Agarwal is directing a play for the Loras Players. Second year Loras Student, Christian Helmholz is the president of L.I.S.A., the Loras Intercultural Students. Senior Loras Student, Bibek Thakuri is a Resident Assistant for Binz.

These three students are involved in a variety of different campus activities, but they all have one thing in common. They don’t call the United States home.

“Still we are so diverse, our personalities, and our involvements, and our priorities are
Different,” adds Helmholz.

These different interests mean you can find them nearly anywhere on campus.

“A lot of international students here at Loras are very involved in different things in campus. You can almost see at least one international student in one of the clubs and organizations, having a representation out there,” said Thakuri.

And that is something these students take pride in.

“Half of the student senators for the first year are international students, and on a ratio, domestic student’s verses international students, it’s like ten percent,” adds Helmholz.

Although the culture is very different, these three, along with many other international students are not afraid to step out of their element.

“It wasn’t exactly difficult for me to break the transition period and say, you know, I can’t do this, I’m an international student, what are other people going to think? No. It was pretty easy,” adds Agarwal.

It was easy enough for him to step right into a directing role with the Loras Players.

“I love theatre. So I joined it, and people were very open, very welcoming,” adds Agarwal.

Luisa Jimenez is a first year at Loras, and found the campus community to be very friendly.

“If you want to get involved you can get involved in anything you want,” said Jimenez.

Whether its student senate, being an RA, or acting with the Loras Players one thing is certain, there is something for everyone at Loras, whether you are international student or not.

Erin Horst can be reached at Erin.Horst@lctv13.com

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Erin Horst
Published: September 17, 2008

DUBUQUE – Alcohol abuse is a recurring problem in our society, especially on college campuses. Hundreds of college presidents have decided it is time to do something about it.

When you are eighteen you can vote, be called to jury duty, serve your country in a war, but you cannot drink alcohol.

“I think we are also mature enough to consume alcohol or to make that choice,” said Loras student Drew Chapman.

The option to drink at eighteen is not about to be changed anytime soon, but the topic is up for discussion.

It is called the Amethyst Initiative. It is a public statement with over 130 signatures including many college presidents.

“I signed it because, I for one passionately believe that society has fallen asleep thinking that just because we have a twenty-one drinking regulation means that it is resolving all the world’s problems,” said Loras College President Jim Collins.

President Jim Collins recently added his name to the list of about sixty other college presidents open to the discussion, but it is not just about the drinking regulation.

“It’s about what we can do to further foster a dialogue and a conversation in the country, to mitigate this obsession with having to get drunk to have fun,” adds Collins.

Although many have signed on for this debate, not everyone is convinced it is the right thing to do.

Clarke College President Joanne Burrows said, “We have not yet made a decision regarding the

Amethyst Initiative, we believe that it requires serious consideration by the college’s leadership team before forming a conclusion.”

President Collins hopes those involved are able to bring the initiative to action within the year.

Erin Horst can be contacted at Erin.Horst@lctv13.com